Woman sexually assaulted in laundry

A woman was grabbed and bashed during a sexual assault in an apartment-block laundry in the city's inner south this week, police say.

Detectives have been told that the 40-year-old victim was alone in the laundry on the ground floor of the Coventry Street apartment block in South Melbourne when a man approached her about 8pm on Tuesday.

The man grabbed the woman from behind and bashed her: she was punched to the face before being sexually assaulted, a police spokeswoman said.

Police believe this man can help with their inquiries. Photo: Supplied

The attacker fled the laundry in an unknown direction. Police are unsure about what he was wearing at the time.

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He is described as being in his 20s, white, about 180 centimetres tall and having a thin build.

Detectives from the Moorabbin sexual offence and child abuse investigation team have released a computer-generated image of a man they believe can help in their investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.